Snow and dirt moving attachment for tractors



Jan. 5, 1943. B. F. ARPS 2,307,655

SNOW AND DIRT MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. B.F. ARPS 2,307,555

SNOW AND DIRT MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 .Eea/vo FAQ/2s 5G. 3 5y.

A Trae/'1 Jan. 5; 1943. B F ARPS 2,307,655

-SNOW AND DIRT MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 3 TTG/@HEY `Ian. 5v, 1943. B, F ARPS 2,307,655

SNOW AND DIRT MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR .Bm/No EARPS Arrow/EY Patented Jan. 5, y 1943'SNOW AND DIRT MOVING ATTACHliENiI.` FOR TRACTORS Bruno Arps, NewHolstein, Wis., assignor to Arps Corporation, a corporation of WisconsinApplication August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,804

9 claims. (ci. 3'1-42) I'he present invention relates to attachments totractors for removing snow from highways and the like and attachmentscommonly called "bull dozers" for moving dirt.

In the present invention, the main frame of the attachment is hingedlyconnected near its rear end to the rear end of the tractor and the frontend is arranged to be vertically movable.

An object of the present invention is to provide blade adapters, wherebythe diiierent kinds of blades are provided with adapters arranged to beeasily attached or removed from the front end of the main frame whichextends a short distance forward of the front axle of the tractor.

Another object of the present invention is tov provide means whereby thefront end of the frame will be free to raise, when necessary, and thendrop back to its original position automatically.

An object of my invention is to provide means whereby the low positionof the front ends of the frame bars may, when desired, be defined by amanually adjustable stop which will not, in any way, interfere with thesuccessful operation of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide guideways whichdepend from the front axle of the tractor and slidably engage the framebars, thereby to definitely control the transverse position of theframe, relative to the tractor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting meanswhich may, when desired, be powered hydraulically and therefore easilycontrolled by the operator.

An object of the present invention is to provide spaced bars as a frame,having their front ends adapted to receive blade adapters, wherebyvarious types of blades may be easily attached and removed from theframe.

l A further object of my invention is to provide vertical pivotal meansbetween the blades and their adapter frame whereby the blades may beturned to and held in any transverse angle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide the snowmoving blade connection to its adapter frame with a spring controlledhinge, whereby the bottom oi' the blade may yieldingly ride overimmovable obstructions.

From the foregoing, it is clearly an object oi' the present invention toprovide a strong, easily manufactured, and easily attached and detachedblade carrying frame and easily attached and detached blades therefor. t

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists of parts,combinations of parts. or their equivalents, and mode oi' operation, ashereinafter described and claimed and shown inthe accompanying drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of 'a tractor equipped with the main frame of myinvention, having the near wheels, a portion oi the front end of thetractor,

and the near wheel steering bracket removed.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the tractor illustrated in Figure 1.

. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my "bull dozer" attachment secured tothe -frame attachment, showing a fraction of the frame and tractor.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the snow moving blade secured to theattachment frame, showing a fraction of this frame4 and tractor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top View of the front end of the frameattachmentand the adapter, showing the front axle and a fraction of theblade.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the device as shown in Figure 5,less the axle.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic drawing of the power controlling connectingparts of a well known tractor when adapted for controlling myattachment, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

As thus illustrated, the tractor in its entirety is designated byreference character A, the main frame of the attachment is designated inits entirety by reference character B, the snow moving blade and itsadapter frame is designated in its entirety by reference character C andthe dirt moving blade and its adapter is designated in its entirety byreference character D.

FrameB comprises two spaced bars IIJ and ii. These bars are provided attheir rear ends with upwardly extending brackets I2-I2 (see Figure 7)these brackets being preferably electric Welded to members l0 and II andpivoted as at |3-I3 to brackets Il-Id which are removably attached tothe rear axlehousing I5, by means of-bolts lli-I8.

The front ends of members I0 and Il extend a distance in front of thefront axle 20 of the tractor, as illustrated in Figure 1. I secure toaxle 20 depending arms 2| and 22, the inner edges beingparallel andadapted to slidably contact members I0 and Il for free vertical movementof the bars.

Under some conditions, it is desirable to provide an adjustable stop forthe lowest position of members I Il and Ii. For this purpose, I providepreferably bolts 23-23, each being secured to members I0 and Il, asillustrated in Figure 2 and passing upwardly and freely through openingsin plates 24-24. Y The upper ends of bolts 23 are threaded an providedwith nuts 25, whereby the lowest position of members I and Il may bedetermined but these members are permitted to freely move vertically. Y

For reasons which will be apparent. front axle must be positioned aconsiderable distance above the front wheel axis. For this purpose, Iprovide depending brackets 28 and 21 to which the front wheels arepivoted automobile fashion.

I provide means for raising and lowering member B at its front end asfollows:

Sheave pulleys 30-80 are rotatably mounted on the front ends of both ofthe frame members, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 7. Cables 3I-3iextend under these sheave pulleys and upwardly to I-bolts 32-32, towhich the cables are secured. Members 2| and 22 are provided with aseries of apertures 33 for the reception of member 32 and by means ofwhich the position of the front ends of members I0 and Il may beadjusted relative to the lifting device, or raised or lowered relativeto each other.

Cable sheaves -40 are rotatably mounted. preferably on the rear ends ofmembers I0 and Ii and are adapted to receive cables 3| which extendupwardly and are rigidly attached to brackets 4l the brackets beingsecured to the rear ends of arms 42-42. These arms are preferablypivoted to bracket i4, as at 43-43 (one not shown) whereby arms 42 maybe oscillated on their pivots so as to'raise or lower the front end ofthe frame, when required.

I provide arms 44 (one not shown) which are pivotally mounted to thebody of the tractor, as at 45 and having a pivotally mounted link 48which extends to the lifting mechanism of the device (not shown). 'Ihislifting mechanism is preferably a hydraulic device which is too wellknown to require further description, or it may be a lever or screwthreaded affair by means of which the operator may oscillate arm 44which is operatively connected to arm 4.2 by means of a link 41. Thislink is adjustable as to length as at 48, so the relative position ofthe front end of the frame to the lifting device may be adjusted.

It will be seen that the lifting device, whether mechanical, hydraulicor manually operated, may be positioned within convenient reach o f theoperator so the front end of the frame may be adjusted at will andeither raised or lowered for bull dozing or raised from the limit stops23.

My frame is primarily designed for carrying blades on the front endsuitable for snow moving or bull dozing work. However, I may elect tomount a scraper blade 5U, on members I0 and against which members 5I and52 rest, at variousV adjustments.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. Unit C comprises an adapterframe consisting of side members and 6I which are detachably secured tomembers i0 and Il by means of spaced bolts as at 62, the bolts extendingthrough openings 63 of members l0 and Il.

Members 60 'and 6| converge forwardly as illustrated and are securedtogether by means of a bar 84, their converging ends forming a supportfor a pad 65. the pad being rotatably secured to the front ends ofmembers and 8| by means of a bolt 66 which extends through a pad orblock (not shown) which forms a connection between the front ends ofmembers 88 and 6i.

Member 65 is provided with a series of apertures 61 which are on aradius with bolt 66. A clevice plate 68 is secured to member 84, midwayits length and extends forwardly over apertures 8l and having aregistering opening for the reception of a linchpin 68. Thus pad 65 maybe turned on member 68 as an 4axis to various angies.4

A blade 10 is yieldingly mounted on member 65 as follows:

Member 65 is provided with a transverse flange 1i, having braces 12 anda forwardly extending plate 13. Blade 10 is provided with stiieningangles 14 and 15 and transverse braces 16--16.

A suitable plate 11 is secured to blade 10 and at its ends to members 16by means of suitable braces. A narrow ilange 18 is integral with andspaced from plate 11 a suitable distance so a trench is formed for theloose reception of the front end of member 13.

I provide preferably three bolts 19 which extend loosely throughopenings in members 13 and 11. These members are held tightly togetherby means of springs 80. Thus the action of the springs will hold plates13 and 11 together.

If the lower edge of blade 'i0 contacts an immovable object, then thefront end of member 13 will act as an axis or`hinge so the pressureagainst the blade, if great enough, will overcome the pressure ofsprings 80, and cause the blade to rock on its axis far enough so itwill normally ride over such objects.

It will be seen that linchpin 69 may be removed and member 10 turned toa transverse angle in either direction, or it may be held at rlghtangles to the direction of travel, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.'I'hus member C is suitable for moving snow from highways in eitherdirection and it can be readily removed or attached to frame bars IIJand Il or from the adapter frame.

Clearly the adapter frame will act as a spacing member for the front endof members I0 and II and cooperate with these members to form a rigidframe capable of resisting side and end thrusts.

Member D is somewhat similar to member C. The frame part of the adaptermay be exactly like the frame of member C and therefore the members ofthis frame bear the same part numbers as given to the parts in member C.The blade howeverdiflers in that it is secured directly to a plate whichis suitably rigidly secured to the bull dozer blade 86.

In moving dirt, it is seldom an immovable object is met with and it isthe custom in such work to drive the tractor at low speed. particularlywhen the blade is in the dirt, therefore the spring releasing means asin unit C is unnecessary and perhaps not desirable because when there isno danger of meeting immovable objects, it is desirable to provide afastening which is unyielding. The operator is then able to use all ofthe power of the tractor for moving the dirt.

It will be noted that plate 85 is provided with side braces andtheentire structure suitably secured to the blade by electric welding, orotherwise, similar c the fastening oi' member i1 of unit C. i

It will seen that I have provided a light, easily adjusted and handledframe and blades which are suitable for removing snow' from highways orfor bull dozing. I n either event, the blades and their adapters areeasily removed and replaced.

Clearly a single adapter frame may be used for blades l and 86, in whichcase either may be removed by loosening bolt 66 and removing linchpin69. In other words, since the adapters are duplicates, if, for example,a highway department purchased the device as illustrated in Figures 1, 2and 3, they may, later on, purchase a blade l0 and parts 65, 13, TI,etc., and mount them on the adapters afterv removing'blade 86 and itsconnected parts.

Referring now to Figure 7. The design of frame B is similar to thatshown in the other figures. The connections from 'the cables to thehydraulic lift are similar to the standard equipment of a well knowntractor, wherein arms 93-93 are pivotally mounted at their front ends tothe tractor as at 94-96. These arms are shown in a medial position andhave an operating connection to cables 3i by means of brackets lil sothe arms are oscillated for raising or lowerl inaT the front ends ofmembers I and Il.

Arms 93 are heavy and provided with openings 95-95 to which otherdevices may be attached, controlled as to height, and pulled.

Arms 96-96 are provided and rigidly secured to a shaft 91 which isrotatably mounted on the body of the tractor and having operativelyconnected thereto a hydraulic lifting and controlling device (no shown).

Links 98-98 form operating connections between arms 93 and 96, asillustrated. and are preferably screw threaded into forked brackets99-99 so the front ends of members I0 and Il may be adjusted relative tothe power lift and to each other.

It will be seen that my attachment may be secured directly to a standardtractor and be controlled hydraulically by means already provided on thetractor for pulling and controlling plows, Scrapers and the like.

Clearly many minor detail changes may be made in the device, asillustrated in the various drawings, without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention, as recited in the appended claims.

Having thus shown and described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a tractor, a longitudinalframe comprising spaced side bars hingedly connected near their rearends to the rear axle housings of said tractor, depending guiding meanssecured to the front axle o1' the tractor and having parallel surfacesadapted to loosely contact said spaced bars for vertical movement andadapted to prevent the frame from moving sidewise relative to the frontend of the tractor, the front end of said side bars adapted to carry ascraper or a bull dozer blade, a sheave pulley rotatably mounted on eachof said bars adjacent said front axle, cables secured to said guides andengaging the under side of said pulleys, sheave pulleys rotatablysecured to the other ends of said bars and adapted to receive said cablethe rear end of said cables extending upwardly and having operatingconnections to a lifting and i height regulating device for the frontend of said frame.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 including; means whereby the height ofthe front ends of said spaced bars may be adjusted individually andindependent ofsaid raising and regulating device.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including; said scraper bladeconnection comprising an adapter permanently secured to the blade andremovably secured to said frame, means on said adapter whereby saidblade may be moved to and locked at any desired transverse angle.

4. A device as recitedin claim 1 including; an adjustable stop adaptedto define the lowest position of the front ends of said frame bars. l

5. A device as recited in claim 1 including; the connection between saidframe and blades comprising a rearwardly extending normally horizontalpad secured to said blades and being vertically pivoted to said frame atits front end, the rear edge being formed on a radius with said pivotand having a number of spaced openings arranged on a radius with saidpivot, a plate v anchored to said frame and overhanging said openingsand having a registering opening with a linchpin adapted to anchor saidpad at any one of said first apertures, whereby said blade may bepositioned and locked at various transverse angles.

6. A device of ,the class described, comprising a carrying frame, ablade having a llongitudinal plate secured thereto midway its width andhaving a trench below the front end thereof, a second plate adapted tolie under said rst plate and extend into said trench, bolts havingsprings adapted to hold said plates together but permit the bottom edgeof the blade to move rearwardly on the front edge of said second plateas an axis, said secondplate having a vertical pivotal connection tothe4 forward end of said frame, the

rear edge being formed on a radius with said pivot and having a numberof spaced apertures also on a radius with said pivot. a plate secured tosaid frame and adapted to overlie said apertuers and having aregistering aperture, a linchpin adapted to extend through said secondaper tures and one of said first apertures, whereby said blade maybemoved and locked at various transverse angles.

7. A device ofthe class described, comprising a frame attachment for atractor having mounted thereon a. normally horizontal forwardly ex,tending pad, a scraper blade having mounted thereon a mediallypositioned pad adapted to lie on said first pad and having a flangeforming a trench for the loose reception of the front edge of said ilrstpad, a number of spaced bolts extending loosely through openings in therear of said second pad and through registering openings in said rstpad, springs mounted on said bolts adapted to tightly press said padstogether whereby the lower edge of said blade may move rearwardlyagainst the front edge of said first pad as an axis and against thepressure of said Springs.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a tractor, a longitudinalframe comprising spaced side bars hingedly connected near their rearends to the rear end of said tractor, depending guide means secured tothe front axle of the tractor and having parallel surfaces adapted toloosely front axle, cables secured to said guides and engaging the underside of said pulleys. sheave pulleys rotatably mounted on the rear endsof said bars adapted to receive said cables. the rear end of said cablesextending upwardly and having operating connections to a power lifting.and height regulating device.

9. A device of the class described. comprising a tractor having frontand rear carrying wheels, bars positioned on opposite sides of theVframe of the tractor each being transversely hinged at its rear endto`the rear end of the tractor frame. depending guides secured to thefront end o the tractor adapted to slidably engage said bars and preventtheir iront ends from transverse rotatably mounted on said bars adjacentsaid.

movement relative to the iront end of the tractor, a power lift mountedon the rear end oi said trac# tor having transversely spaced arms,sheaves rotatably mounted on the forward end of said bars adjacent saidguides. cables having at their rear ends an operating connection to thefree ends of said arms, their forward ends engaging the under side otsaid sheaves and extending upwardly and being anchored at ilxed pointsrelative to said tractor whereby a movement of said arms will cause thefront ends of said bars to raise or lower. a scraper blade mounted onsaid bars a considerable distance forward of said hinges.

BRUNO F. ARPS.

